For a number of homeowners, there comes a point where they are faced with an important decision: to sell their current home and move, or renovate their existing space to fit their needs. The decision isn’t always in easy one; it entails looking at the market to see what’s available, examining the potential for a “forever” home, and seeing if a new neighborhood rivals an existing one.
The Doolittles are a perfect example of this dilemma. This local couple bought their...

We've posted these on our Facebook page but in case you haven't seen them or your like a bit more description, here we go!
Here are two views of the arcade from the exterior. There is a lot of landscaping that still needs to be done and the driveway and walks are still a giant hole. The house itself is pretty much done and the clients have moved in and love the way it turned out and how the light changes...

It hasn't been that long but things are cruising now so here are even more pictures! We'll start with the interior.
First thing you notice going into the house is this incredible waterjet cut natural stone medallion installed in what is already a beautiful floor. You can see a bit of the stair, one of the only things that haven't been stained and finished. There is a custom curved piece mahogany that we are waiting on before the final trim can...

Progress, progress, progress! Grading and plantings and lower retaining walls are coming together as we get closer to the finish line.
The outdoor spaces are going to be incredible on this project. This house is all about views of the lake and the many outdoor spaces let them enjoy them from those views from throughout the site.
More outdoor spaces below. The outdoor kitchen and the courtyard outside the dining room complete the outdoor part of the project.
We'll post more pictures when...

Another site visit and few new pictures. The trees are greening up and the house is getting harder to see but here is the view from the road. It is difficult to see but most of the railings are in, and the stone is pretty much done on this side.
The cast stone tile is in for the upper terrace. There is a lot of it. They are waiting on a few trim pieces and then install of that stone can...

February 1, 2012
by Kurt Kraisinger, RLA, LEED AP
Principal, Lorax Design Group
www.loraxdesigngroup.com
Are you dreaming of a patio, pergola structure or new swimming pool in your backyard? Or maybe you’re thinking about an outdoor kitchen, a stone fireplace, a water feature or a landscape full of four-season color? For those homeowners who don’t want to go down the path of a “do-it-yourself” job, you may need the assistance of an architect or a landscape architect (who often work in collaboration with one...

A site visit out to Belvedere, we had a stop to make on the other side of the lake so I shot a few pictures showing the whole site. Now that the concrete walls are covered up the house is starting to blend into the site in the way we designed it. Once house wrap is covered up with stucco and the backfill and plantings are in, the house will look like its always been there.
A view of...

RDM Architecture jumped into the design-build side of things with this gate we designed for a previous client who's dogs discovered a weak spot in the "invisible fence". At this particular spot they were able to build up some speed and get through and out of range. To resolve this we just needed a gate as the surrounding plantings are dense/thorny enough to disuade the dogs from going around.
The dogs, having discovered the gap, kept escaping and we couldn't find...

A couple photos of the stone going up. This is a big step in the exterior of the project. The site work and retaining walls use the thin stone and all the building stone is full depth stone. This allowed use to keep the wall thickness at something more reasonable since a lot of the retaining walls, like the one pictured below, are quite high and have a lot of reinforcing. What is difficult to see in this photo and...

Another post on the Belvedere Project, they are coming closer together as the project continues to cruise right along. First up we've got a big start on the retaining walls and site work. Below left is a view from what will be the top of the drive down to the lower garages. We are really happy with the profile of the finished roof and the round endcaps on the the end of the ridges. The retaining wall here steps back...